From the Director

Happy New Year!The small business economy improved in 2012 and based upon our first quarter FY13 SBA loan data, the recovery is continuing on the same track as this time last year.As the recovery continues, it’s essential entrepreneurs and small business owners are reminded of the SBA tools available to lead that effort. Three key SBA tools come in the form of counseling, capital and contracting.

There's an old saying that “when we fail to plan, we plan to fail.” SBA provides a full spectrum of free and low cost counseling services through our resource partners such as SCORE, Florida Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), and Florida Women's Business Centers (WBC).This newsletter has links for scheduled training near you.Start the year out right by acquainting yourself with our business professionals that can help you plan and succeed.A new SBDC center is opening this month at the University of Miami!

SBA remains a viable starting point to find capital to help start or expand small businesses.There are more than 100 lenders in the South Florida district that handled SBA guaranteed business loans in 2012.In addition to banks, the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program makes loans available through private equity investors.Whether your business needs $500 or $5 million to succeed, SBA has lending options where others might not be available.Have you seen our list of lenders who have made loans this year?Check them out HERE.

Small businesses looking to develop and expand can do so through government contracting.Did you know at least 23 percent of government contracts go to small businesses?If you want to learn more about how your business might benefit from bidding on government contracts, contact our offices and speak to one of our business opportunity specialists.The SBA’s 8a Business Development Program is one of several great programs available to help small businesses develop through federal contracts.

From all of us in the South Florida District Office, have a great 2013!

Upcoming Events in South Florida

Free or low-cost business training workshops are scheduled throughout the South Florida District through our network of SCORE resource partners! Click on the links below to find a class this month near you!

Free or low-cost training workshops on a wide variety of business topics from financing to government contracting are available statewide through the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC).Their schedule of workshops can be found HERE.

For women entrepreneurs, the two Florida Women's Business Centers offer training for you HERE and HERE.

SBA Deputy Administrator Visits Small Businesses in Coral Gables

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – U.S. Small Business Administration Deputy Administrator Marie Johns visited two small businesses in Coral Gables on Thursday, Dec. 13, during her trip to SBA’s South Florida District.

Johns visited Coral Gables businesses Essence Boutique and Books & Books. She also had the opportunity to have lunch with Coral Gables Mayor James Cason and the President of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Mark Trowbridge.

SBA Deputy Administrator Marie Johns (left) and Essence Boutique owner Sandra Moreira discuss small business during a visit to the Coral Gables store on Thursday, Dec. 13. Johns visited two small businesses in Coral Gable to meet with small business owners and to highlight what consumers can do to support America’s small businesses during the holiday season.

SBA Success in the Southeast and Beyond

by: Cassius Butts

SBA Regional Administrator

For two years in a row the U.S. Small Business Administration has helped to put more than $30 billion into the hands of small business owners across the country.In Fiscal Year 2012, the SBA loan programs posted the second largest dollar volume ever, surpassed only by the dollar volume in FY 2011, which was heavily boosted by the loan incentives under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010.The pace of SBA loan-making is a healthy sign for the national economy and the credit markets and is one of the foundations for ensuring the availability of financing to small businesses trying to establish themselves, grow and create new jobs for Americans.In the south Florida district alone, more than 1630 loans were approved last fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2011- Sept. 30, 2012) for more than $783.5 million

Tallahassee, Fla. - Florida manufacturers and exporters are a powerful combination for the state’s economy. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, 93 percent of the state’s exported goods are produced by Florida’s 12,862 manufacturing firms. These firms employ 311,200 workers across the state, with 14.2 percent supported by exporting revenue alone. Florida manufactured goods exports have grown 142.6 percent since 2000, ahead of the national average at 80.1 percent.

New Website to Help States Implement Self-Employment Assistance Programs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor jointly announced a new website to support state workforce and unemployment agencies in implementing or enhancing Self-Employment Assistance programs. The announcement expands on guidance issued in May, which included $35 million in funding for states to implement or expand these programs made possible through the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.